Sports Training Glove

ABSTRACT

A sports training glove is a garment that covers a person&#39;s hand and reduces the hand&#39;s ability to apply friction on a graspable object such as a sports ball or other sports equipment. The sports training glove includes a glove body and a friction reducing membrane. The friction reducing membrane is integrated across a palm portion of the glove body. The friction reducing membrane may also extend along the finger sleeves and the thumb sleeves of the glove body in order further reduce the hand&#39;s ability to apply friction on a graspable object. Once the sports training glove is taken off of the person&#39;s hand, the person should be able to have better control and coordination with the graspable object.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/413,021 filed on Oct. 26, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a glove with a friction-reducing layer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a glove with a layer of friction-reducing material that is integrated into the glove's palm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sports glove is designed to make all objects the user comes in contact with evasive and difficult to control. Thus, heightening the users sense of, and for, the object. The application of this product will cause the users dominant hand to no longer be dominant. Thus, users will develop the skill of being able to control the objects that they come in contact with ambidextrously. The present invention can be used for individual training sessions or full contact scrimmages. Once the gloves are removed, the users hand coordination and sensory perception will be heightened. This will allow the user to properly react and manipulate objects in a fast and efficient manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a sports training glove that is used to train and improve an athlete's hand-eye coordination, their ability to read tactile feedback, and their reaction time. The present invention reduces the athlete's implicit control of an object being grasped by their hand(s), which forces the athlete to quickly react when handling a ball or other piece of sports equipment. Additionally, by reducing the tactile feedback derived from direct skin-to-object contact, the present invention increases the tactile sensitivity of the athlete's hands. In these ways, the present invention improves the user's athletic abilities. One of the main uses of the present invention is for drilling and ball-handling skills in basketball. When the basketball comes in contact with the palm portion of the sports training glove, the basketball becomes elusive and highly difficult to control for the user. Once the user practices with the sports training glove and then takes off the sports training glove, they will experience a higher level of control of the basketball as a result.

Moreover, the present invention comprises a glove body 1 and a primary friction-reducing membrane 2. The glove body 1 is the structural body of a garment that is used to partially or fully cover a person's hand. The glove body 1 comprises a palm-bracing portion 11 and a backing portion 12, which are positioned opposite to each other about the glove body 1. The palm-bracing portion 11 is used to cover the palm of a person's hand, while the backing portion 12 is used to cover the back of the person's hand. The primary friction-reducing membrane 2 is a piece of material or a coating that reduces the ability of a person's hand to apply friction on an object as the person's hand grasps the object. Thus, the primary friction-reducing membrane 2 needs to be positioned external to the glove body 1. The primary friction-reducing membrane 2 is superimposed across the palm-bracing portion 11 because the palm has the largest surface area on a person's hand and is able to apply the most amount of friction as the person's hand grasps an object. Reducing the ability of the palm to apply friction improves the functionality of the present invention.

The present invention may also be used to reduce the ability of a person's fingers to apply friction on an object. Thus, the present invention may further comprise at least one secondary friction-reducing membrane 3, which is functionally configured the same way as the primary friction-reducing membrane 2. In addition, the glove body 1 may further comprise at least one finger sleeve 13, which is the portion of the glove body 1 that is used to cover a person's finger(s). The finger sleeve 13 comprises a gripping section 131, which is the portion of the finger sleeve 13 that contacts an object being grasped by a person's hand. Similar to the primary friction-reducing membrane 2, the secondary friction-reducing membrane 3 needs to be positioned external to the glove body 1. In addition, the secondary friction-reducing membrane 3 is superimposed across the gripping section 131 of the finger sleeve 13 in order to reduce the amount of friction that can be applied by a person's finger(s). The present invention also allows for different embodiments so that the secondary friction-reducing membrane 3 can be mounted along one or multiple finger sleeve(s) 13 of the glove body 1 so that the present invention can be catered to each individual person's athletic training needs.

Likewise, the present invention may also be used to reduce the ability of a person's thumb to apply friction on an object. Thus, the present invention may further comprise another secondary friction-reducing membrane 4, which is functionally configured the same way as the primary friction-reducing membrane 2 and the aforementioned secondary friction-reducing membrane 3. In addition, the glove body 1 may further comprise a thumb sleeve 14, which is the portion of the glove body 1 that is used to cover a person's thumb. Similar to the finger sleeve 13, the thumb sleeve 14 comprises a gripping section 141, which is the portion of the thumb sleeve 14 that contacts an object being grasped by a person's hand. Similar to the aforementioned friction-reducing members, this secondary friction-reducing membrane 4 also needs to be positioned external to the glove body 1. In addition, the secondary friction-reducing membrane 4 is superimposed across the gripping section 141 of the thumb sleeve 14 in order to reduce the amount of friction that can be applied by a person's thumb.

Manufacturing specifications can be used to optimize the functionality of the present invention as an athletic training tool. Thus, the primary friction-reducing membrane 2, the at least one secondary friction-reducing membrane 3 associated to the at least one finger sleeve 13, and the secondary friction-reducing membrane 4 associated to the thumb sleeve 14 can each be made of different kinds of materials. Some preferable materials for these friction-reducing membranes include, but are not limited to, elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, scuba knit, scuba net, or combinations thereof. More specifically, some preferred fabric combinations include, but are not limited to: a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% rayon; a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% nylon; a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% polyester; or a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% leather. In addition, the glove body 1 is preferably made of an elastic lightweight material so that the glove body 1 is able to ergonomically conform to the shape of a person's hand by stretching and contracting. Some preferable materials for the glove body 1 include, but are not limited to, elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, and combinations thereof. Moreover, a weight of the glove body 1 is less than or equal to 0.125 pounds (lbs.) so that the glove body 1 does not restrict or hinder the athletic movements of the person's hand.

In order to adequately secure the glove body 1 to a person's hand, the present invention may further comprise an adjustable wrist strap 5, which is used to tightly brace a person's wrist. The adjustable wrist strap 5 is positioned about a hand-receiving opening 15 of the glove body 1 and is perimetrically connected to the palm-bracing portion 11 and the backing portion 12, which secures the glove body 1 to a person's hand without restricting movements of the person's hand. The adjustable wrist strap 5 is preferably used to tighten a clove integrated into the glove body 1. Moreover, the present invention may further comprise a fastener 6 with a first interlocking piece 61 and a second interlocking piece 62. The fastener 6 is used to hold the adjustable wrist strap 5 at a selected tension around a person's wrist. The first interlocking piece 61 is terminally connected to the adjustable wrist strap 5, while the second interlocking piece 62 is connected along the adjustable wrist strap 5 and is offset from the first interlocking piece 61. This configuration between the first interlocking piece 61 and the second interlocking piece 62 allows the user to select a variety of different tensions to apply onto the adjustable wrist strap 5. The fastener 6 can be, but is not limited to, hook-and-loop pads, magnets, buttons, and larches.

The user of the present invention may want to draw the attention of people surrounding the user either for functional or aesthetic purposes. Thus, the present invention may further comprise a visual indicator 7, which is a visually stimulating object or graphic. The visual indicator 7 can be, but is not limited to: a sports team color, name, nickname, logo, or combinations thereof; and any color within the color spectrum or color wheel. The visual indicator 7 is positioned external to the glove body 1 and is mounted onto the glove body 1 so that the visual indicator 7 can be clearly seen by the people surrounding the user. The visual indicator may also be integrated into the adjustable wrist strap 7 in order to further draw the attention of people surrounding the user.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports training glove comprises: a glove body; a primary friction-reducing membrane; the glove body comprises a palm-bracing portion and a backing portion; the palm-bracing portion and the backing portion being positioned opposite to each other about the glove body; the primary friction-reducing membrane being positioned external to the glove body; and the primary friction-reducing membrane being superimposed across the palm-bracing portion.
 2. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1 comprises: at least one secondary friction-reducing membrane; the glove body further comprises at least one finger sleeve; the finger sleeve comprises a gripping section; the gripping section being positioned adjacent to the palm-bracing portion; the secondary friction-reducing membrane being positioned external to the glove body; and the secondary friction-reducing membrane being superimposed across the gripping section.
 3. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 2, wherein the secondary friction-reducing membrane is a material selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, scuba knit, scuba net and combinations thereof.
 4. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a secondary friction-reducing membrane; the glove body further comprises a thumb sleeve; the thumb sleeve comprises a gripping section; the gripping section being positioned adjacent to the palm-bracing portion; the secondary friction-reducing membrane being positioned external to the glove body; and the secondary friction-reducing membrane being superimposed across the gripping section.
 5. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondary friction-reducing membrane is a material selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, scuba knit, scuba net and combinations thereof.
 6. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1 comprises: an adjustable wrist strap; the adjustable wrist strap being positioned about a hand-receiving opening of the glove body; and the adjustable wrist strap being perimetrically connected to the palm-bracing portion and the backing portion.
 7. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 6 comprises: a fastener; the fastener comprises a first interlocking piece and a second interlocking piece; the first interlocking piece being terminally connected to the adjustable wrist strap; and the second interlocking piece being connected along the adjustable wrist strap, offset from the first interlocking piece.
 8. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 6 comprises: a visual indicator; and the visual indicator being integrated into the adjustable wrist strap.
 9. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glove body is made of an elastic lightweight material.
 10. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elastic lightweight material is selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, and combinations thereof.
 11. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein a weight of the glove body is less than or equal to 0.125 pounds (lbs.).
 12. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary friction-reducing membrane is a material selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, scuba knit, scuba net and combinations thereof.
 13. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 12, wherein the material is a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% rayon.
 14. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 12, wherein the material is a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% nylon.
 15. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 12, wherein the material is a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% polyester.
 16. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 12, wherein the material is a fabric combination of 80% elastane and 20% leather.
 17. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a visual indicator; the visual indicator being positioned external to the glove body; and the visual indicator being mounted onto the glove body.
 18. A sports training glove comprises: a glove body; a primary friction-reducing membrane; at least one secondary friction-reducing membrane; a visual indicator; the glove body comprises a palm-bracing portion, a backing portion, at least one finger sleeve, and a thumb sleeve; the finger sleeve and the thumb sleeve each comprise a gripping section the palm-bracing portion and the backing portion being positioned opposite to each other about the glove body; the primary friction-reducing membrane being positioned external to the glove body; the primary friction-reducing membrane being superimposed across the palm-bracing portion; the gripping section being positioned adjacent to the palm-bracing portion; the secondary friction-reducing membrane being positioned external to the glove body; the secondary friction-reducing membrane being superimposed across the gripping section; the visual indicator being positioned external to the glove body; the visual indicator being mounted onto the glove body; and a weight of the glove body being less than or equal to 0.125 lbs.
 19. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 18, wherein the primary friction-reducing membrane and the secondary friction-reducing membrane are a material selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, scuba knit, scuba net and combinations thereof, and wherein the glove body is made of an elastic lightweight material selected from a group consisting of: elastane, leather, rayon, silk, polyester, and combinations thereof.
 20. The sports training glove as claimed in claim 1 comprises: an adjustable wrist strap; a fastener; the fastener comprises a first interlocking piece and a second interlocking piece; the adjustable wrist strap being positioned about a hand-receiving opening of the glove body; the adjustable wrist strap being perimetrically connected to the palm-bracing portion and the backing portion; the first interlocking piece being terminally connected to the adjustable wrist strap; and the second interlocking piece being connected along the adjustable wrist strap, offset from the first interlocking piece. 